Trocar site closure assembly

Abstract

Embodiments of this invention relate to trocar site closures including a head with a plurality of arm receiving passages therethrough, an arm received by each of the passages, each passage having a discontinuity which allows each arm to be pulled inward but deters outward movement, and each arm having a grappling portion. The head and arms are inserted into a patient wound, such as a trocar site. The arms engage with tissue surrounding the wound. A pulling force is exerted on the arm proximal ends, drawing the distal ends of the arms toward the head and at least partially closing the wound. The head and at least a portion of the arms remain in the patient, and are preferably made of a biocompatible material. Embodiments of this invention also relate to an insertion device used to insert the closure into the wound and at least partially close the wound.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A trocar site closure system, comprising:
 a trocar site closure including: 
 a. a head, said head having a plurality of arm receiving passages therethrough, each of said plurality of arm receiving passages having a discontinuity therein; 
 b. a plurality of arms, each of said plurality of arms having a distal end and an opposed proximal end, each said arm having a grappling portion; 
 c. each of said plurality of arms is received by one of said plurality of arm receiving passages, and where said discontinuity in each said arm receiving passage permits movement of said arm received when said arm is pulled from said proximal end, but where said discontinuity in each said arm receiving passage deters movement of said arm received when said arm is pulled from said distal end; 
 wherein each said arm receiving passage is from an exterior opening in said head to an interior opening in said head and where said arm received in said arm receiving passage has a portion terminating in said distal end extending from said exterior opening and a portion terminating in said proximal end extending from said interior opening; and 
 wherein each said discontinuity is a ramp, said ramp sloping upward from a location toward said exterior opening in said head to a location toward said interior opening in said head. 
 
     
     
       2. The trocar site closure system of  claim 1  where said grappling portion is at least on the portion of said arm extending from said exterior opening. 
     
     
       3. The trocar site closure system of  claim 2 , where said grappling portion is toward said arm distal end. 
     
     
       4. The trocar site closure system of  claim 2 , where said grappling portion is along said arm from said distal end toward said exterior opening in said head. 
     
     
       5. The trocar site closure system of  claim 4 , where said grappling portion comprises a plurality of barbs. 
     
     
       6. The trocar site closure system of  claim 1 , where each of said plurality of arms have a plurality of openings therein, where at least one of said openings can engage said ramp contained in said passage through which said arm passes. 
     
     
       7. The trocar site closure system of  claim 1 , where said head and said plurality of arms are made of a biocompatible material. 
     
     
       8. The trocar site closure system of  claim 1 , where said head is of unitary construction. 
     
     
       9. The trocar site closure system of  claim 1 , where said head has a first portion and a second portion, said first portion having said discontinuities thereon, said second portion having passage guides thereon, said passage guides being positioned opposite said discontinuities. 
     
     
       10. The trocar site closure system of  claim 1 , where each of said plurality of arms have a plurality of openings therein, where at least one of said openings can engage said ramp contained in said passage through which said arm passes. 
     
     
       11. The trocar site closure system of  claim 10 , where said grappling portion is along said arm from said distal end toward said exterior opening in said head. 
     
     
       12. The trocar site closure system of  claim 11 , where said grappling portion comprises a plurality of barbs. 
     
     
       13. The trocar site closure system of  claim 1 , where said head has a top portion and a top open end, and where said arm portion terminating in said proximal end extending from said interior opening extends further through said top open end. 
     
     
       14. The trocar site closure system of  claim 13 , where said head top portion removably abuts an insertion end of a body of an insertion device and where said arm portions extending through said top open end and terminating in said proximal end are removably received within said insertion end of said body. 
     
     
       15. The trocar site closure system of  claim 14 , where said insertion device includes a control mechanism, said control mechanism operably linked to said arm portions removably received within said insertion end of said body such that said arm portions can be pulled upward in said body of said insertion device to decrease a length of said arms extending from said head exterior openings to said distal ends. 
     
     
       16. The trocar site closure system of  claim 15 , where said head has a ring portion at said top portion, said ring portion being removably received within said insertion end of said insertion device body. 
     
     
       17. The trocar site closure system of  claim 16 , where said insertion device body has an inner sleeve therein, where said inner sleeve is operable to expel said ring portion from said insertion end of said insertion device body. 
     
     
       18. The trocar site closure system of  claim 1 , where said head is sized to deter contaminants from entry into a trocar site. 
     
     
       19. The trocar site closure system of  claim 1 , where said head has a closed end which deters contaminants from entry into a trocar site.